Redblacks release Chevon Walker

The player who scored the first Ottawa Redblacks touchdown is no longer a Redblack at all.

Running back Chevon Walker received notice of his release from general manager Marcel Desjardins after arriving at team facilities at TD Place stadium on Friday.

The 28-year-old veteran in his fourth Canadian Football League season told reporters that he was shocked, that he hadn’t seen it coming, but maybe he should have.

Walker’s role had diminished in the Redblacks’ second season, as had his stats, and he was demoted to second-string behind Jeremiah Johnson for last Sunday’s game against the Toronto Argonauts.

“The main reason Jeremiah is playing right now is he will hit the holes that are there, where Chevon always attempted to try to bounce it outside and was trying to hit that home run,” Desjardins said. “We want somebody who is going to be decisive and do what the play calls for as opposed to trying to stretch things out.”

Besides scoring the first touchdown for the Redblacks in both a preseason game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders and their 2014 regular-season opener against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Walker recorded the team’s’ longest touchdown run: a 65-yarder against the Edmonton Eskimos.

However, his 2014 season ended when his left arm was broken on a hit by a B.C. Lions tackler in September.

He started at tailback for the first seven games this season, but he averaged just 3.7 yards per carry and had just 287 rushing yards overall. He also had 23 receptions for 159 yards (6.9 average) and 10 kickoff returns for an average of 19.4 yards, but had not scored a touchdown.

Johnson has 30 carries for 86 rushing yards (2.9 average) and 13 receptions for 84 yards, but has scored three touchdowns, including a pair in the 30-24 loss to the Argonauts.

“Last week (Johnson) showed he could get some yards, make some guys miss (tackles),” head coach Rick Campbell said, “and also he gets the yards that are there. Sometimes they’re not highlight-reel stuff, but a five-yard run needs to be a five-yard run, and he has a knack for doing that.”

Desjardins acknowledged Walker’s participation in Redblacks community events, but maintained the decision was based on putting the best group of players on the field. Once it was determined that Walker was no longer a starter, it was time to move on with someone else.

The GM said money had not been a factor. However, as a veteran CFLer, Walker would have had his salary — reportedly $110,000 per year — guaranteed for the rest of the season shortly after the Redblacks returned from the bye week following this Sunday’s home game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The guarantee kicks in after nine games for those with six-plus years of service, after 10 games for those with five years in and after 11 games for four-year veterans.

Walker played two seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats before the Redblacks made him one of 24 selections in the December 2013 expansion draft. His departure leaves 11 of those athletes on the active roster, plus defensive tackle Jonathan Williams on the six-game injured list.

Walker made one of his relatively infrequent posts on Twitter early Friday, before learning he had been released: “Breathe new life into my mind, soul, and body today … #happyfriday.” While the Redblacks were on the practice field, he tweeted again: “Nothing but love and appreciation for #RNATION #partthegame.”

Johnson, 28, entered the CFL with Toronto in 2014, but was released by them and signed by the Redblacks.

He described Walker’s departure as “unfortunate” and his former running mate as a friend, “but this business is a selfish business. You know you’re going to have quick friends and you’re going to have long friends, and that’s why you have to come out here with the intention of putting your best foot forward every single time you step on the field, whether it’s in a practice or in a game.”

Without Walker, the Redblacks had 43 names on the online list of their active roster, but on Saturday they got back to the pre-game limit of 46 by adding first-year running backs Travon Van and Kienan LaFrance and defensive end Marlon Smith, who had been transferred to the one-game injured list so American punter Andy Wilder could have what amounted to a one-game trial during the game at Toronto.

Also activated from the practice roster were Canadian punter Ronnie Pfeffer and defensive back Forrest Hightower, while defensive back Abdul Kanneh and linebacker James Green return to action from the one-game injured list.

Wilder and defensive back Brandon McDonald were also released this week. Receiver Alex Pierzchalski, defensive lineman Vincent Desloges and defensive back Hugo Lopez were placed on the one-game injured list, while defensive back John Boyett was assigned to the six-game injured list after hurting his left knee against the Argos.

Van played at the University of Montana with quarterback Jordan Johnson, who was released after attending the Redblacks’ April mini-camp.

Assuming he’s on the roster for Sunday’s contest against the Roughriders, Van will probably replace Walker as kickoff returner and act as Johnson’s backup.

“Yesterday I was practice squad, and today I come in and I can get a chance to play (Sunday),” said Van, who was signed on Aug. 10. “The main thing is being ready when your number is called and going out there and doing what you have to do.”

Taken in the sixth round of the CFL college draft in May, LaFrance was on the active roster for backup and special-teams duty before missing the past two contests at Calgary and Toronto because of a hamstring problem.

“With the moves that have happened, there might be some more opportunity, but, like I said before, I’m just keeping the same mindset and working really hard to make things happen,” the Winnipeg native said. “It’s definitely not fun sitting on the sidelines, but it’s a process you have to kind of accept sometimes.”

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